Chapter 3: Babysitting Hazards
"Let's see," Eiko mused as she explored the shop, looking for supplies that they might need. "We'll need another bottle besides the one that Moguo gave us. A pacifier or two would probably be a good idea. Diapers, obviously, and clothes..."
A semi-short while later, Eiko and Vivi headed back to the castle, laden down (mostly Vivi) with their various purchases. They had managed to find everything, including several infant-sized tunics and pairs of trousers, and were now hurrying along to rejoin their friends on babysitting detail.
Back at the castle, Steiner had managed to locate the much needed crib, blankets, and a small box of toys, including rattles and stuffed animals. There was even a sturdy rocking chair. Aided by Freya, he cleaned the items off and the two of them moved them down to the designated room to set them up. As soon as the rocking chair was in place, Dagger sat down and continued to hold the miniature version of her boyfriend, who was actually quite happy to simply play with her hair or pendant.
The set up was just being finished as the mages arrived back with their purchases and Quina showed up with a blizzarded water skin full of some kind of milk. However, when asked where it was from, the Qu launched into an excited and detailed explanation that left everyone scratching their heads.
In any case, no matter where it came from, the Qu cook was right: it seemed to be exactly what little Zidane wanted. When Dagger took the bottle full of milk and began to feed him, he latched on right away and contentedly downed the whole thing.
After feeding him, Dagger gave the infant back to Eiko and Vivi, seated on several blankets on the floor. Then she and the other adults left to see to any official duties that needed wrapping up. The two mages had fun burping their new charge and then occupied themselves with playing with the tiny baby. They thought it particularly amusing when they got his tail to wrap around one of the rattles and shake it, bringing a giggle from the baby and laughs from his sitters.
Several hours past and the adults returned; for one, to check on the three of them and relieve Eiko and Vivi, and two, to hear Beatrix's report on her findings from the library, if any.
The two mages stood up and walked over to Freya, who had brought some food for them, before turning to the general. Dagger absent-mindedly picked up the baby, who had started to get fussy, and also turned to listen.
The news, unfortunately, was not good. So far, Beatrix had not even found another mention of the spell in her search. What's more, no one in the castle could even claim to be able to read and understand Old Standard to a good enough extent to be any use. It was such a complex and bizarre form of language that even Dr. Tot had never mastered it. And after all, the only thing that the party's mages had been able to figure out was that it was a powerful status affecter, and that had been by the structure and order of the symbols. This situation was turning into quite the predicament.
After a short while, Little Zidane decided to interrupt the meeting by becoming fussy once again. No matter how Dagger held him or what she did, he would not quiet down. She couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. That is, until she began to smell it.
She looked down and her eyes widened. "Uh-oh..."
"What be that smell?!" Quina asked, her heightened Qu senses of smell and taste quite horrified.
"Ah..." Freya nodded, covering her face. "It would seem that he needs to be changed." A heated argument followed that statement.
"Well I am most certainly not dong it!" Dagger declared adamantly, "And it has nothing to do with being queen! I would never be able to look him in the eye again!" In her mind she added, "At least not until we were married."
"Me either," Eiko said, "Besides, me'n Vivi don't know how." Vivi nodded rapidly and both of the young mages sighed with relief when Dagger and Freya agreed with them.
"Well, Quina obviously can't do it..." said Beatrix, looking at the seeming-to-be-soon-asphyxiated Qu, who had backed away to the farthest corner of the room."And Freya, with her dragon senses, is likely to be not much better off."
"Further," Freya put in, "I imagine that Zidane would not want any of the women to do it."
"Ah, good point," Beatrix agreed, "So that leaves Adelbert and Amarant."
"Not on your life or mine," Amarant replied in a tone that left no room for any argument. Everyone turned their eyes to Steiner, whose own eyes were starting to widen. Dagger walked over to the apprehensive captain and deliberately held the infant out to him.
"You do know how to change a diaper, right, Captain Steiner?" she asked, holding back a smile with a will.
"W-well, I-I," he began, "I - yes, I do, but it's been so long th-that..."
"Here, Adelbert," Beatrix stepped in, I'll talk you through it." With that, she picked up the bag of needed supplies, took the baby from Dagger, and then waited expectantly for Steiner to lead the way to the adjoining room. Somewhat reassured, the captain hesitantly nodded and left the room with Beatrix close on his heels, carrying the now rather fussy infant.
The next few minutes were both very pitiful and very amusing for those waiting for the changing to be finished; amusement at the grunts and groans coming from the next room, and pity for the poor man making them. From what they could gather, everyone there counted their lucky stars that the offending task had not fallen to them.
When Steiner reentered the room, his face was set in a stone mask that nearly made Eiko bust out laughing. Beatrix followed immediately, carrying a much happier baby, and a servant was called to take the soiled diaper away.
The servant, Adam by name, was a little confused as to why there was a baby there in the first place until he was briefed of the situation. Then, upon seeing the Captain's face and realizing what the traumatized man had just gone through, he offered a suggestion.
"I have little brothers and sisters and know how to change an infant, and there is a small room directly below here. If it would help, I could stay there and you could call me whenever he needed to be changed."
Everyone agreed that this was a good plan. Steiner in particular looked like he would burst into tears of relief at any moment.
After a bell was set up to call Adam when needed, it was getting on to dusk, and after another bottle, Little Zidane was beginning to look distinctly tired. His eyes began to droop and he started to yawn every few minutes.
"I guess this one is ready for bed," Dagger said with a grin. After they had gotten the little boy into his pajamas, she gently laid him down in his crib as Freya put out the lights. However, just as everyone was walking out of the room, the baby began to cry, his volume escalating each second.
Startled, Dagger ran back to the crib and tried to find out what was wrong. She knew he had jut eaten and a quick check revealed that he did not need to be changed again, so she looked for other problems. He had enough blankets, there was sufficient padding on the bottom of the crib, and his tail was not caught on anything...
"Well, goodness!" Beatrix said, "Then what is wrong with him?"
"I don't know," Dagger admitted. Becoming a little distressed herself at the tiny baby's pitiful cries, she reached into the crib and scooped him up. Dagger then began to comfort the little boy in the same manner as she had seen Beatrix do. After only half a minute, the crying ceased and Dagger had a miniature tail once again wrapped securely around her arm. Surprised, she watched as the infant in her arms snuggled to her and began to fall asleep.
"Hm..." Steiner mused, putting in a suggestion, "Perhaps if we rocked him completely to sleep first, and then put him in his crib." Dagger nodded and since she was already holding him, she headed for the rocking chair. Several minutes later, Little Zidane was sleeping soundly, his tiny fingers curled into loose fists.
Dagger waited a few more minutes, then very carefully stood and went to the crib. She then laid the little boy down ever so gently, while Freya carefully unwound his tail from her arm.
It was a good idea, and should have worked. However, as soon as the group had tip-toed halfway across the room, the infant began to cry again, louder this time.
"Argh," Steiner let out an exasperated sigh as the women and Vivi stole back to the crib. After several more attempts to soothe him, including laying him on his tummy and then his side, the whole group was at a loss. Even Amarant, who had not moved from the doorway, began to wonder just what was wrong with their charge.
Dagger was holding the once-more-contented child when there came a knock at the door. It was one of the castle messengers. He glanced at the baby in the queen's arms in confusion for a brief moment then addressed her.
"Your Majesty, your guest has arrived. Shall I send her up to you?" he inquired.
"Guest?" Eiko asked.
"Oh yeah!" Dagger exclaimed softly. "Makoto was coming tomorrow."
"Yay!" Vivi grinned. "She must have decided to come a night early."
"Yes, send her up," Dagger nodded to the messenger. "Thank you."
"She just may be able to tell us what to do with Zidane," Freya said after he had gone. General agreement was sounded throughout the room.
A short time later, the blonde and be-tailed young woman entered the room and fond hugs were exchanged. However, when Makoto saw the infant, she stopped, her eyes widening a bit. Then she grinned lightly.
"Why, I was not even aware that you were pregnant."
Several jaws dropped, followed by a stifled giggling at this statement.
"Uh-um-oh-uh," Dagger stuttered, blushing to the roots of her hair. "N-no, no, this isn't my baby..." Makoto raised an eyebrow. "NO! I, uh, no, you see, this IS Zidane!" she finally managed to say. Needless to say, Makoto's expression instantly changed to one of complete surprise.
"... ...well. Shoot, what happened?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips. Finding their voices again, the group explained about the spell and ended with a description of their immediate problem.
"He just won't sleep!" Eiko said exasperatedly.
"No matter what we try, little Zidane no snooze," Quina added.
"Well actually," Freya interjected, "he seems to do alright as long as someone is holding him. The moment we put him down, however, he cries quite loudly.
"He has a horizontal alarm," Vivi put in.
Makoto looked thoughtful and nodded. "That makes sense," she explained. "You all saw how the Genomes were in Bran Bal. Everything had order and none knew the concept of emotion, which is what a child's cries are meant to invoke in its caretakers. When Zidane was 'born,' not full grown but an infant and with a soul at that, they would not have known how to care for him properly. They would have seen to his physical needs sufficiently, but it would not have occurred to anyone to fulfill his emotional needs. This being the case, it would not surprise me that he has some fear of abandonment at that age."
When Makoto had finished, everyone was silent for a moment. Then Dagger, still holding Zidane, nodded.
"Oh...Alright then." She turned to Beatrix, "would you see to Makoto's sleeping quarters?" When the general nodded, Dagger turned to Vivi, "Would you please hand me that larger blanket?" she asked, gesturing. The black mage did so and Dagger faced the rest of the group.
"Good night then, everyone," she said, and headed for the rocking chair to settle in for the night.
(A/N): Sorry for the wait, I am currently in a very remote area with one computer to share among 70 people. So updates may be scattered a bit until September when I go home, but know that I will never give up on this fic. I am having too much fun